Durban South Africa, September
2, 2001 (Reuters) - Israel was branded a "racist apartheid" state early
on Sunday by thousands of non-governmental organizations meeting in South
Africa.

The NGO Forum accused the Jewish
state of "systematic perpetration of racist crimes including war crimes,
acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing." It called Israel "a racist apartheid
state in which Israel's brand of apartheid as a crime against humanity
has been characterized by separation and segregation...and inhumane acts."